Governor's Message: Is Rotary Christmas Year Round?

DG John and Christie Adams with Charlie at
RC Lexington's photos at Southern Lights service project
(see article later in newsletter)

At this writing we are in the middle of the holiday season. For me it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the introduction of the values of hope, peace and goodwill, by God on earth. Still, I recognize and find great comfort, that every religion and faith celebrates hope, peace and goodwill, in the fourth quarter of the year or in the first quarter of the new and upcoming year.

This need to celebrate must have been made innate in us by our creator as the origins of holiday celebrations around the winter solstice go back as long as humans have joined together to form societies - - and in most every society. It is important that we do celebrate hope, peace and goodwill every year as it gives us a reminder of the importance of these universal values.

But are not these celebrations in vain if we do not aspire or act to give hope, make peace, and promote goodwill throughout the year and not just at holiday time? If we do nothing during the rest of the year, do we really have the occasion to celebrate in the holiday season?

For Rotarians the foregoing rhetorical questions are moot. Rotarians not only celebrate the universal values of hope, peace and goodwill in the winter solstice, but we also act on them throughout the year. Our coming together weekly to seek out, plan, implement and celebrate our many Rotary projects and programs is how we act to bring hope, peace, and goodwill to our fellow man locally and internationally throughout the year. When Rotarians proclaim hope, peace and goodwill in their holiday greetings to acquaintances, friends and family; it is not an expression of hollow words, but expressions backed by the past and future efforts to serve others.

Not only do Rotarians give gifts at Christmas and Holiday time, we work together to give meaningful gifts of hope, peace, and goodwill, throughout the year to many in our communities and around the world, including and not limited to: educational opportunity, water & sanitation, health-care, literacy, shelter & clothing, food, vocational assistance, vaccines and disease prevention, peace & conflict resolution initiatives.

Therefore Christie, Charlie and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and in the New Year let us vow to honor God by serving others through Rotary so that we may bring more hope, peace and goodwill here on earth.